People – Animal Migration Research Group

Lab Commitment to Inclusion

The philosophy of the Animal Migration Research Group is to cultivate an environment where all members can bring their full selves to the table, thereby enabling us to do good science, learn from each other’s unique contributions, and achieve our personal and professional goals. In our academic setting, we are mindful of the power imbalance inherent in our positions and of the ways that many groups have faced discrimination and exclusion from the sciences. We understand that safe, inclusive, and harassment-free environments must be actively cultivated in our day-to-day interactions. Thus, it is the responsibility of each of us to contribute to a supportive and welcoming lab culture for everyone with whom we interact, including PIs, postdocs, students, interns, staff, collaborators, visitors, and the public. To this end, our research group does not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or intimidation. Participants asked to stop discriminatory behavior are expected to comply immediately. As we strive for a personally meaningful and productive work environment, we understand we will make mistakes and, when those mistakes happen, we commit to calling each other in with kindness and to responding respectfully and with an openness to growth.

Current Lab Members

Emily Cohen (she/her)
Principal Investigator
Website
GoogleScholar
ResearchGate
Twitter @Emily_B_Cohen
Research in Dr. Cohen’s laboratory broadly aims to understand animal migration biology in the context of the full annual cycle.

Joely Desimone (she/her)
Assistant Research Scientist
Website
GoogleScholar
Twitter@joely-desimone

Joely’s work combines field, captive, lab, and remotely sensed data to better understand the physiological and ecological factors that shape the incredible long-distance movements of birds. She completed her PhD at the University of Montana on seasonal and nomadic migratory decisions and her current project is combining weather radar data with historical bird banding data to study bird migration from a community ecology perspective: how species interactions influence where and when birds stopover during migration.

Claire Nemes (she/her)
PhD Candidate
Website
GoogleScholar
ResearchGate
Twitter @cenemes
Claire’s research focuses on migratory bird ecology and conservation, including songbird migration phenology, stopover behavior, and effects of free-roaming domestic cats on birds during the non-breeding seasons. Before arriving at UMCES, she completed her M.S. on Cerulean Warbler habitat use in managed forests. She devotes most of her spare brain cells to thinking up bird puns.

Luke DeGroote (he/him)
PhD Student
Website
GoogleScholar
ResearchGate
Twitter @LukeDeGroote
Luke DeGroote is studying the ecology of migrant landbirds including stopover habitat characteristics and use, migration strategy and phenology, and avian perception of patterned glass. He is also the Avian Research Coordinator at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s Powdermill Nature Reserve where he oversees the long-term bird banding operation.

Megan Massa (she/her)
MS Student
Website
Twitter @MeganDrawsBirds
Megan is studying the response of grassland birds to management in National Battlefield Parks. Her project also incorporates communication of her science through her artwork and design.